I’m going to be a bit of a homer tonight – and talk about my Hokies – you can’t blame me, right?
Virginia Tech football has taken some quality steps this year. First, we told you earlier in the year that Virginia Tech, to show it was making improvement in its football program, had to defeat Pittsburgh on the road. That happened. The next step was to get to the ACC Championship game (and win the ACC Coastal Division). That also happened – if Virginia Tech had 5 more minutes, I think the Hokies would have defeated Clemson. In the process, Justin Fuente was voted ACC Football Coach of the Year.
Last night, we told you that Virginia Tech made substantial improvement this year – and to show further improvement, the Hokies had to defeat Arkansas (the Hokies were 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. SEC competition) in the Belk Bowl.
Life as a Hokies fan sees its ups and downs – and tonight’s 1st half was horrendous – Virginia Tech was getting physically dominated in the trenches as they say by Arkansas on both sides of the ball (e.g. the offensive and defensive line). It was as if someone told the Hokies that the game didn’t start until 6 PM EST or something like that. Virginia Tech was down 24-0 at halftime.
Arkansas has been the way more physical team today.
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 29, 2016
Yep Virginia Tech pretty much can’t play worse. Arkansas treating hokies like they have 6 players on defense — Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 29, 2016
this is starting to get embarrassing for Virginia Tech — Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 29, 2016
And then something happened in the 2nd half – Virginia Tech powered on the offensive and defensive switches:
Virginia Tech held Arkansas to 36 yards rushing and the Hokies established their own running attack to the tune of more than 160 yards on the ground. In the process, Virginia Tech scored 35 unanswered points. 35 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).
Hokies may have life yet
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 30, 2016
Wow what a turn of events in the Belk bowl. No quit in those hokies
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 30, 2016
Hokies with 35 unanswered. Unbelievable turnaround.
— Jeff or Jeffrey Fann (@TalkinACCSports) December 30, 2016
Assist by Bud Foster’s ball hawking defense (who got three turnovers from Arkansas), the Hokies came back from their largest deficit in school history and scored touchdowns on 5 of their first 7 possessions in the 2nd half – and won a comeback for the ages over Arkansas 35-24. Jerod Evans played really well in the 2nd half – and ended up with 243 yards passing and 87 yards rushing for the game.
With the win, ACC teams now have five wins and one loss in the postseason bowls.
